Has anyone been to these? Do they give you plenty of audience access to the best whistle soloists? I want to hear as much good, live whistle music as I can. I plan to go next year for the whole week, taking in the whistle competitions and evening whistle sessions at the local pubs, maybe a concert or two as well. Any advice and comments?
I have only been to one of these, in '05. My first Fleadh and first trip to Ireland. I really think you will get a lot out of the experience. You might have to be a bit proactive in finding what you are looking for – having said that, don’t be too disappointed if your experience is different than you expect. Enjoy what you find.
In my case, i hoped to hear tons of uilleann pipers. I heard a couple in a couple pubs but the crowds were, well, very crowd-like, not bad but it was hard to even get a glimpse of the musicians. There was great music but not ideal listening.
I happened to find singers in a chapel and that experience was magic. I had not gone looking for singers or song circles and certainly never had the thought that I might be asked to sing but there it was 
I got to briefly chat with the sons of Paddy Tunney and hear Mr Tunney’s grand (or great grand) kids sing in “public” for the first time, that’s what i was told anyway.
Hanging out with singers for the week was not the experience i was looking for but one that was more grand than I had hoped.
Have fun
[quote=“dean”]I have only been to one of these, in '05. My first Fleadh and first trip to Ireland. I really think you will get a lot out of the experience. You might have to be a bit proactive in finding what you are looking for – having said that, don’t be too disappointed if your experience is different than you expect. Enjoy what you find.
Thanks Dean. From your experience, it sounds as if I ought to try and find some local whistlers and get the skinny from them before I go, just so I can save as much time as I can. (It sounds easy to get sidetracked, even if enriching). Maybe I should try to qualify a few bed and breakfast places to find one run by a whistling family… Or get my friends and I onto a whistling tour?
Thanks for your input.